Pan European maxi campaign

A project to have come out of left field is set to reveal itself in a month's time. The new Esimit Europa 2 sailboat will be launched at a christening ceremony in Cannes on 10 June. Supported by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, the 30m supermaxi Esimit Europa will be sailed by an all-European crew, displaying European colours in several of Europe’s most prestigious races. An educated guess would suggest the boat in question to be Neville Crichton's successful Alfa Romeo.

The project is supported by European Energy, a powerful online movement to improve the quality of life in Europe. “With one of the most sophisticated sailing boats in the world as well as an outstanding crew that includes many Olympic athletes and world champions, we are planning to win Europe’s most prestigious races,” says Ivan Simčič, Esimit Europa Project Manager and the man behind the idea, explains the team’s sporting goals.

“However, this is just a small piece of the bigger project,” added Simčič. “Our hope is for the boat to energise all Europeans and to increase communication between the nations. At the same time, the boat will act as an ambassador of the online environmental movement, European Energy, and motivate people to focus their energy on the actions that will improve our lives in the future.”

Igor Simčič is convinced that the world of sailing is not just about competition. Instead, sailboats can represent individual continents and countries, connect them and contribute to a better future. In 1995, with the help and support of the mayors of the Slovenian Nova Gorica, where Igor lived, and the Italian Gorizia, where he worked, he launched the Esimit Gorizia & Nova Gorica international project. From the very beginning, the Esimit sailing boat symbolised a friendship that stretched across boundaries and gradually became increasingly European.

The project grew through excellent results at notable European sailing races and support of numerous project advocates. In 2001, the time was right for including other European countries into the Esimit project. Simčič’s vision came true in 2002, when the European Parliament pledged its support for his sailboat. Since 2004, the 19-metre boat’s crew is participating in yacht races under the flag of the European Union. The 30-metre Esimit Europa builds on this legacy, and with EU logos on both sides of the hull, the new vessel truly symbolises the European Union.

The project is also sponsored by Gazprom, a leading energy company, and Medot, a brand of exclusive sparkling wines. Slam is the official equipment supplier for the team.